Celtic Pilgrimage: Ireland - Sunday, May 3 to Sunday, May 17, 2020 - Pilgrim Routes Travel
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Celtic Pilgrimage: Ireland
Sunday, May 3 to Sunday, May 17, 2020
Facilitators:
Canon Dr. Richard LeSueur
Professional Local Irish Guide
Itinerary Summary :
Portmarnock Hotel 2 nights
Salthill Hotel, Galway 3 nights
Lake Hotel, Killarney 3 nights
Glendalough, Co Wicklow 3 nights
Mont Hotel, Dublin City 3 nights
Total 14 nights for a 15 day trip.
________________________________
Day 1: Sunday, May 3 Arrival and Gathering Portmarnock Hotel D
Arrival at Dublin International Airport and transfer to Portmarnock Hotel. (20 minute drive). At 5:15
gather for a Welcome Reception during which Richard will provide an introductory overview of Celtic
history and review the tour itinerary. Dinner follows at 6:30 pm.
Arrival
5:15 pm Welcome Reception and Group Orientation
6:30 Dinner, and early to bed
Day 2: Monday, May 4 The Early Story Portmarnock Hotel BLD
After a hearty breakfast, meet in the lobby and drive through the rich lands of Co. Meath to the bend of
the Boyne River and the collection of Neolithic passage-tombs of Newgrange and Knowth (dated 3200
BCE. Knowth has one of the highest concentrations of megalithic art in Europe.) The passage and
chamber are illuminated once a year on December 21 at the Winter solstice. After a buffet lunch at the
Bru na Boinne Centre, we will visit the Hill of Tara the renowned seat of the High Kings of Ireland,
and an important site since the late Stone Age. The Lia Fail (stone of destiny), by which the ancient
kings were inaugurated, still stands on the hill. Nearby we will consider the Hill of Slane (site of St
Patrick’s legendary encounter with the Druids of Tara). Here St Patrick lit the Pascal Fire in 433 AD in
defiance of the High King of Tara King Laoghaire. Then continue on to the famous Celtic High
Crosses at Monasterboice and return to Portmarnock Hotel.
7:00 am Breakfast at leisure
8:30 am Departure
Bru na Boinne Centre
Newgrange: Neolithic Passage Tomb
Lunch
Monasterboice: High Crosses
Hill of Tara (Hill of Slane)
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 3: Tuesday, May 5 The Irish Famine Salthill Hotel, Galway BLD
Depart for Strokestown and the National Famine Museum in the West of Ireland which tells the story
of the Irish Great Hunger, eviction, migration, the assisted emigration scheme enacted by Major Denis
Mahon of Strokestown Park. After lunch we continue on to Galway and the Salthill Hotel situated on
the Salthill promenade with panoramic views of Galway Bay and the Clare Hills. The hotel is I km
from Galway city centre.
7:00 am Breakfast at leisure
8:45 am Departure
Stokestown National Famine Museum
Galway City
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 4: Wednesday, May 6 Connemara Salthill Hotel, Galway BD
Today we will tour the rugged landscape of the Connemara region on the west coast of Ireland.
Arrive at Kylemore where you can explore its Gothic Church & Victorian and walled gardens.
Continue on to the town of Clifden and enjoy lunch at leisure and some free time in this bustling
town. Return to Galway and your hotel
7:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am Departure
Kylemore Abbey
Clifden
Connemara
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 5: Thursday, May 7 Aran Islands Salthill Hotel, Galway BLD
Depart for Inishmore, (Inis Mór) the largest of the Aran Islands, with its breathtaking scenery and
monastic community remains from early Christian times. Dara Molloy will be our island guide. Visit
to St. Enda’s at Killeany, Dun Aengus and St. Ciaran’s Church. Return to mainland.
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Departure
Ferry to Kilronan Harbour, Inishmore
St. Enda’s at Killeany
Lunch (packed by hotel)
Dun Aengus
St. Ciaran’s Church
5:00 pm Ferry back to the ‘mainland’
7:30 pm Dinner
Day 6: Friday, May 8 A Rugged West Coast The Lake Hotel BLD
Depart your hotel and drive the south-west coast via the Burren National Park. Free time in
Ballyvaughan village. Visit Poulanbrone one of the most famous Irish portal dolmens dated to about
2500 BC. Visit Kilfenora Cathedral known as the ‘City of the Seven Crosses’ and boasts one of the
greatest concentrations of high crosses in Ireland, including the famed Doorty Cross. Lunch in the
Kilfenora Visitor Centre. Visit to the cliffs of Moher. Killimer ferry crossing of Shannon River. Check
in to The Lake Hotel and dinner.
7:00 am Breakfast,
8:15 am Departure
Burren National Park - Poulanbrone
Ballyvaughan village
Kilfenora and lunch
Cliffs of Moher
Killimer ferry
Check into the Lake Hotel
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 7: Saturday, May 9 Dingle Peninsula The Lake Hotel BLD
Travel to the Dingle Peninsula and then along the coast road below the Sliabh Mish Mountains to Slea
Head. “Walk in the footsteps of St. Brendan, the Navigator, and St. James.” Lunch and visit to the
Blasket Centre, the Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkader.
7:00 am Breakfast
8:15 am Departure on the Dingle Peninsula circuit
Slea Head - south-western end of the peninsula
Blasket Centre and lunch
Gallarus Oratory
Kilmalkader Church
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 8: Sunday, May 10 Rest and Recreation The Lake Hotel BLD
After a leisure breakfast take the 5 minute drive to the 19th century Muckross House one of the finest
stately homes in Ireland. Queen Victoria of England was a house guest in 1861. After your guided
tour of the house there is time to explore the wonderful gardens . Enjoy lunch in a local pub.
Afterwards board a horse drawn jaunting cart for a ride through the scenery of the Killarney National
Park to the 15th century Ross Castle. The lake beckons and your tour includes a cruise of the lower and
Muckross lake.
(weather permitting) Optional Day-trip to Skellig Michael
8:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Departure
Muckross House tour (think of ‘Downton Abbey’)
Lunch
Horse-drawn cart-ride to Ross Castle
Lakes of Killarney Boat Tour
6:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm Departure for Celtic Steps Show
Day 9: Monday, May 11 The Rock of Cashel and Kells Glendalough Hotel BLD
This morning we leave Killarney for a guided visit of The Rock of Cashel. Lunch is at the Bru Boru
Centre. We continue eastwards to visit the 12th century Kells Priory and then through the Wicklow
mountains to Glendalough. Check into the picturesque Glendalough Hotel.
7:00 am Breakfast
8:15 am Departure
Rock of Cashel
Lunch at Bru Boru Heritage Centre
Kells Priory
Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 10: Tuesday, May 12 The Valley of the Twin Lakes Glendalough Hotel BLD
Depart for Pilgrimage Walk through St Kevin’s Monastic City. We will see St Kevin’s Church,
Kevin’s Well, 10th Century Round Tower, St Kevin’s Cross and St Mary’s Church. Lunch is at the
hotel. The rest of the day will be free time to return to the Glendalough Visitor’s Center and museum.
Breakfast from 7:30 am
9:00 Devotional walk through the Monastic City of
St. Kevin
Lunch at the Hotel
Free afternoon
5:15 Late afternoon tea and briefing
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 11: Wednesday, May 13 St. Kevin’s Pilgrim Walk Glendalough Hotel BLD
We begin our day at the Visitor’s Centre for a video on “Ireland of the Monasteries” and then meet our
specialist pilgrim guide Fr. Michael Rogers. Carry on a Pilgrim Walk to Diseart Chaoimhin (St
Kevin’s Desert) beside the Upper Lake. Visit Reefert Church, St Kevin’s Cell (foundations of Kevin’s
6th Century Hermitage, Teampall Na Skellig (The Church of the Rock) and reflections with silence
beside the Upper Lake. Lunch at the hotel and free afternoon.
Breakfast from 8:00 am
9:45 am Group meets at Visitor’s Centre
10:00 am Fr. Michael Rogers: specialist pilgrim guide
Upper Lake: St Kevin’s Desert
Reefert Church, St Kevin’s Cell
Teampall Na Skellig (The Church of the Rock)
1:00 pm Lunch: Hotel
Free afternoon
(optional trip to Powerscourt Gardens:
guests pay for access to gardens)
5:15 Late afternoon briefing
6:30 pm Dinner
---------- tomorrow we leave for Dublin
Day 12: Thursday, May 14 St. Brigid and High Crosses The Mont Hotel BLD
After breakfast check out of your hotel and drive to the ancient ecclesiastical site of Moone (famous
Celtic High Crosses). Afternoon visit to St Brigid’s Holy Well with prayers at the Well. Then to
Kildare and to St Brigid’s Cathedral (13th Century) and site of Brigid’s
ancient monastery. Continue to Dublin and the Mont Hotel splendidly
located across from Trinity College in the heart of the city.
Breakfast from 7.00am at leisure
8:30 am Luggage outside the room.
9:00 am Departure
Castledermot and Moone
Lunch: Japanese Garden Café, National Stude
A devotional pilgrimage to St. Bridget’s Well
Kildare: St Brigid’s Cathedral and monastery (5th c.)
Dublin to the Mont Hotel
7:00 pm Dinner
Day 13: Friday, May 15 Dublin City The Mont Hotel B
The day begins with a visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells Exhibition (famous 8th Century
Illuminated Manuscript of the Four Gospels). The remainder of the day is a free day in Dublin for
shopping or additional sightseeing. Dinner is on your own in Dublin. At 6:30 meet in the hotel lobby to
board coach for the Gate Theatre and live show.
Breakfast from 7.00am at leisure
Book of Kells, Trinity College
Rest of the day free to explore Dublin
Lunch on your own
Free time Options:
“The Jeanie Johnston” Irish Emigration
The National Gallery, St Patrick’s
The Kilmainhaim Gaol
The Guinness Exhibit, Old Jameson Distillery
Dinner on your own
6:30 pm Meet in the hotel lobby for a Performance at the Gate Theatre
Day 14: Saturday, May 16 Dublin City The Mont Hotel BLD
After a pleasant breakfast we will visit the Chester Beatty Library for a guided tour of its collections.
The Library is one of the premier sources for scholarship in both the Old and New Testaments and is
home to one of the most significant collections of Islamic and Far Eastern artefacts. Then we take a
short walk to visit Christ Church Cathedral one of Dublin's oldest building and a place of pilgrimage
for almost 1,000 years. It is home to a famous 12th Century crypt, one of the oldest and largest in
Britain and Ireland. Enjoy lunch at the Brazen Head Pub officially Ireland’s oldest pub dating back to
1198 followed by a free afternoon. We all regather for a ride out to Dublin Bay and a farewell dinner at
the Aqua Restaurant, Howth, Dublin Bay.
Breakfast from 7:30 am
Departure time to be announced
Chester Beatty Library
Christ Church Cathedral
Lunch at The Brazen Head
Free afternoon
6:45 pm Farewell dinner at the Aqua Restaurant, Dublin Bay.
Day 15: Sunday, May 17 In Thanksgiving – On our way B
Travel home, or on to other destinations.
Check-out by 11:00am from Mont Hotel
__________ Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
As an experience of pilgrimage each day commences with a reading and prayer to help us enter into
the soul of the day and prepare for what we will be encountering. The prayers and meditations are
ecumenical and invitational. Appropriate to each site will be a few moments of guided reflection or
meditation, in addition to teachings on the Celtic tradition.
Includes:
• All land transportation on air-conditioned bus
• Professional Driver & Guide
• All Hotels
• Ferry return Rossaveal to Inishmore, Aran Islands
• All breakfasts included
• Most dinners – except one in Dublin when people are free.
• Most lunches are included as indicated in the itinerary
• All entrance fees to museums and sites
• All fees for guest lecturers and specialist guides.
• All resource materials
• “Celtic Steps” An evening performance in Killarney
• Fee to the National Museum in Dublin
• An evening performance at Gate Theatre, Dublin
• All tips & gratuities
Does not include:
• Air transportation to/from Ireland
• Travel insurance (recommended)
• Beverages with meals
• Individual touring in Dublin on free time
• Two lunches
• One dinner
Pilgrimage Highlights:
Hill of Tara Hill of Slane
Newgrange Muiredach’s High Cross, Monasterboice
St. Claran’s Church, Inishmore All monastic sites in Glendalough
Trinity College Book of Kells Exhibition Burren National Park
Rock of Cashel Moone High Cross
Muckross House Blasket Centre
National Museum, Dublin St. Brigid’s Cathedral
Cliffs of Moher Kilmalkader
Entrance to Dun Aengus Fort, Aran Islands Gallarus Oratory
Kylemore Abbey St. Brigid’s Well
PILGRIM ROUTES TRAVEL INC.
Richard LeSueur
email : richard@pilgrimroutes.ca
phone: 403-493-9922
mail: PO Box 8802
Canmore, Alberta
T1W 0C1
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